3 Color Cashmere Cowl.

Posted by Julia on June 25, 2016

I just finished knitting a new shop sample in the luxurious Fibre Company Canopy Fingering, Joji Locatelli’s “3 Color Cashmere Cowl.”

The “3 Color Cashmere Cowl” is narrow but very deep, designed to scrunch cozily around one’s neck, so it does well in a yarn with good drape. It’s a fun knit, simple enough to be near-mindless, but with enough changes here and there to stave off boredom. I had fun watching the colors come together; they seem to behave differently depending upon the thickness of the stripes.

Our friend Catherine spotted the “3 Color Cashmere Cowl” on my needles and became smitten with the pattern.

She quickly knit the cowl above in Canopy Fingering, brought it in for show and tell, and left that day with enough Shibui Staccato to make two more. I’d only just hung mine on the wall when she came in with two more completed cowls, another on the needles, and plans for several more in Staccato and one in Isager Alpaca 2.

Catherine has begun to adjust the pattern to suit her preferences, omitting a lace section here, shortening a striped section there, and sometimes rearranging the order of those sections.

Look for my “3 Color Cashmere Cowl” on the wall here at the shop, and feel free to try it on for size. We have Canopy Fingering in a nice selection of colors, and even more in Staccato and Alpaca 2. Come by the shop to play the color game, and make a “3 Color Cashmere Cowl” of your own!

TNNA snapshot: Shibui.

Posted by Julia on June 12, 2016

Every year, Anne, Rosi and I attend The National NeedleArts Association’s summer trade show–TNNA for short. This year, it takes place in Washington, D.C., a shorter drive than the usual Columbus, OH. We opted for an abbreviated trip, leaving after closing up shop on Saturday evening. We got in late, ate the take-out dinner we brought from Hillsborough, then tucked into bed to rest up for the long day ahead. This morning, we started our day with Shibui, peeking at and ordering plenty of their new fall yarn and designs. Now we’re taking a coffee break, knitting a few stitches, and planning our next stop. More soon!

On and off our needles.

Posted by Julia on May 12, 2016

Anne and I are always knitting. I’m sure this comes as no surprise. At home, we work on our own projects – Anne is currently knitting a sweater for her husband, I’m (almost always) knitting a sweater for myself – and here at the shop, we knit on samples that will one day hang on the wall to inspire knitters that come to visit. Within the past two weeks, we’ve both completed shop samples and cast on for new ones.

Anne’s “Nova” tunic is made with Shibui’s newest yarn, Rain, a mercerized cotton so smooth and shiny it could pass for silk.

“Nova” is simply constructed in two pieces, then stitches are picked up for the mandarin collar. Side seams give structure to the drapey fabric that comes with plant fibers like cotton.

The pattern photo shows “Nova” in a silvery gray, but I think it looks particularly elegant in Anne’s signature black. Come by the shop to try it on!

With “Nova” behind her, Anne is now stitching on another pattern from Shibui’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, a colorblock pullover called “Horizon.”

She’s knitting it in the uncharacteristically bold color combination of “Lime” and “Suit,” holding Linen and Cima together for a lightweight fabric. Each ball of yarn is tucked in a separate plastic bag for the duration of the project: an effective, if not glamorous, method for managing slick, delicate yarns.

My most recently completed project is “Spearmint Tea,” a shawl knit with Cutthroat Yarn Gradient Cotton.

Because this yarn changed color at a different rate than the yarn called for in the pattern, I made a few changes along the way, all noted in my project page on Ravelry, for those curious. Look for the finished piece here at the shop!

My next shop project is a second “Baa-ble Hat,” knit in Plymouth Tweed and Queensland Kathmandu Aran. I like how the colorwork looks in the mottled tweed yarns, and I’ve had fun watching the sheep emerge row by row.

Knit in aran weight yarn, this is a quick project. Come by the shop in the next week, and you’ll likely find it finished! We look forward to seeing what’s on your needles, too – come in for inspiration and to plan your next project.

Interweave Knits.

Posted by Julia on May 2, 2016

The newest issue of Interweave Knits is here!

The Summer 2016 issue is full of lightweight garments, lace shawls, articles and tutorials.

The lacy tank below calls for Shibui Twig, a sport weight blend of linen, silk, and wool. Look for Anne’s “Slope” knit in Twig here at the shop; we’re happy to take it off the wall so you can get a tangible sense of how it softens with washing and blocking.

This lace shawl is knit in Fibre Company Meadow, another perfect yarn for spring and summer stitching.

Look for Interweave Knits on the teacart, among the newest books and magazines for knitters, crocheters, and weavers. See you at the shop!

Show and tell: texture and lace.

Posted by Julia on April 27, 2016

It’s show-and-tell time again! I’ve been collecting photos of finished projects as they’re brought into the shop by proud knitters, the better to share them here.

Nancy recently brought in her finished “Big Easy Blanket,” knit in Fibre Company Cumbria Worsted. With its blend of structure, softness, and sharp stitch definition, Cumbria Worsted is a perfect choice for this textured throw.

Ellen knit these three ties for her husband, using and modifying the “Seed Stitch Tie Recipe” until she got exactly the fabric and fit that she wanted. She knit the grey garter stitch tie in Takhi Cotton Classic, the green variegated tie in Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit, and the burgundy tie in Shibui Dune held double throughout.

Here’s Hazel’s “Turtles’ Journey” cowl, knit in Malabrigo Arroyo in just the right shade of teal. She brought it to the shop, nearly completed, for a kitchener stitch consult, and everyone who saw it was taken with these textured turtles.

Recent visitors to the shop may have seen Robin’s “Rock Island” shawl hanging on the wall, a sample for her upcoming class on the subject. She knit it with Malabrigo Sock in “Rayon Vert,” a color we just got back in stock. Read more about this intermediate lace class and more on our Classes page!

Watching projects take shape is one of the most fascinating and rewarding parts of our days at the shop. Anne and I are always impressed by the needlework around us, and the creative minds we meet. Thanks for sharing your projects with us, and look out for more show and tell soon!

Knitting Traditions.

Posted by Julia on April 12, 2016

Another new publication has landed on the teacart here at the shop. Take a peek inside the Spring 2016 issue of Knitting Traditions.

Knitting Traditions looks at the craft from a historical perspective, focusing on techniques and styles from all over the world and across time.

Pick up Knitting Traditions to read about one scholar’s research on Peruvian knitting, or a designer’s process from inspiring stained glass window to knitted tam. Also look to this unique magazine for unusual patterns, like tiny dolls dressed to stroll in 19th century Paris, or lace shawls inspired by head coverings from Victorian England.

The “Head in the Clouds Scarf” below was adapted by Carol Huebscher Rhoades from a pattern appearing in Weldon’s Practical Needlework, a British magazine from the late 1800’s. It’s shown in Shibui Silk Cloud, a luxurious, shimmering blend of mohair and silk, which can of course be found in the lace weight section here at the shop.

Look for Knitting Traditions among the latest publications on the teacart, and pick it up for an interesting read. See you at the shop!

New books for crocheters.

Posted by Julia on April 10, 2016

As I wrote a few days ago, the teacart is the showcase for the latest books and magazines here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Two new books for crocheters recently found a home on the teacart, full of inspiring patterns and some familiar yarns.

Kristin Omdahl’s Continuous Crochet is all about working seamlessly to crochet garments with minimal finishing.

Robyn Chachula’s Vintage Modern Crochet marries traditional crochet lace techniques with a modern sensibility, and collects patterns in this vein from a variety of designers.

I spotted two Shibui yarns in play; the “Carefree Pullover” above shows Shibui Linen worked up in filet crochet, and the “Fidelma Motif Shawl” below shows Shibui Silk Cloud in the Irish lacy rose motif.

Come by the shop to browse for crochet inspiration and plan your next project!

knit.wear.

Posted by Julia on March 29, 2016

Remember knit.wear, the stylish, short-lived magazine from Interweave that was replaced by knit.purl? Well, looks like it’s back, at least for this one special issue!

Knit.wear focuses on simplicity and sophistication in handknitting, is typically garment-focused, with more sweaters than accessories, and this issue is no exception.

Shibui yarns are well-represented in this issue; the striped pullover above is knit in Shibui Dune, and the belted tank below is knit in Shibui Twig.

Other familiar yarns found their way into this issue, too. This striking red sweater calls for Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, a worsted weight blend of cotton and wool.

The beret and headband below are knit in Malabrigo Finito and Fibre Company Canopy Fingering, respectively.

I also spotted a feature on Michele Wang, a designer whose patterns I’ve admired the past few years. It should be interesting to read a bit about her process.

You’ll find knit.wear on the teacart here at the shop, nestled between the swift, ballwinder, and all the latest publications. See you there!

Show and tell: neckwear.

Posted by Julia on March 16, 2016

Along with daydreaming about future projects, trying new techniques, and deciding between colors, show-and-tell is one of the predominant activities here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Now and then, I like to bring this activity to the blog, sharing finished projects that started their lives as yarns on our shelves. Today, let’s look at cowls and scarves.

Rosi knit this cowl with the delightful Shibui Staccato, a fingering weight blend of merino and silk. She designed it herself, a soft and stretchy moebius decorated with a reversible texture pattern.

Katherine crocheted this “Vega Crochet Cowl” as a sample for her recent class on the subject. It looks great in the self-striping Plymouth Gina, and many of her students followed her lead, selecting different colorways in the same yarn. I can’t wait to see how they all come out!

Here’s Judie in her beautiful “Starshower,” knit in Sincere Sheep Cormo Fingering. One doesn’t fully appreciate the clever shaping of this cowl/shawl hybrid until one sees it on a person, rather than hanging on a hanger as my sample “Starshower” does. Inspired to knit one of your own? Consider signing up for Katherine’s upcoming “Starshower” class to have guidance and camaraderie as you stitch.

I knit this “Rockcliffe” scarf as a sample for the shop, inspired by our recent Cumbria Collection Trunk Show. This is my second time working with Fibre Company Cumbria Worsted, a soft-yet-toothy yarn that I absolutely adore, especially for projects like this one where sharp stitch definition is required. The texture patterns were fun and engaging, but not too complicated; I think this would make a great introduction to chart-reading, especially paired with Kelbourne Woolens’ tutorial, “Working from Charts: Knit/Purl Patterning.”

Here’s Peggy’s completed “M.1” scarf, knit in Shibui Maai, one of the softest yarns in the shop, in my opinion. This is a gift for her husband, and it looks smart in “Suit,” a blue somewhere between navy and cobalt.

Thanks to all the knitters, crocheters, weavers, and fiber artists who start their projects here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. We love seeing what you’re making! Keep your eyes on the blog for another round of show-and-tell soon. In the meantime, see you at the shop!

Refined Knits.

Posted by Julia on February 18, 2016

A new stack of books have found a place on the teacart here at the shop, Jennifer Wood’s Refined Knits.

Refined Knits is a collection of patterns for garments and accessories, focusing on lace, cables, and stitch patterns that combine the two.

I spied some of our very favorite yarns in this book, like Shibui Staccato and Fibre Company Knightsbridge.

This cabled cardigan uses Shibui Staccato and Pebble held together, for a thicker fabric and a unique combination of a lustrous solid color yarn and a tweedy one.

Along with the patterns, Wood offers tutorials and tips throughout the book, shedding light on some of the techniques she employs.

Come by the shop to browse our collection of books, magazines, single patterns, and handknit samples. We hope you find inspiration here as you plan your next project!